Nixon unveils mental health initiative

Thursday

Dec 19, 2013 at 10:19 AM

Would grant MACC $167K for mental health education

Drew Van DykeMMI Editor

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon revealed during a trip to Columbia's Moberly Area Community College Higher Education Center campus yesterday afternoon (Dec. 18), that his budget for fiscal year 2015 will include $20 million in grants for mental health care education to public colleges and universities.

The program is called the Caring for Missourians: Mental Health Initiative, and it is anticipated to help the aforementioned institutions educate an additional 1,200 students for careers in the mental health field.

Moberly Area Community College is one of the colleges on that list of 21. It is expected that MACC would garner $167,283 of that $20 million. Those funds will be used to establish classroom and lab space in Columbia to train occupational therapy assistants and create a new behavioral health technician certificate.

"As a former mental health provider, I truly believe that preparing our graduates for this profession will provide them solid career opportunities while strengthening the communities they serve," said MACC President Dr. Jeff Lashley. "Gov. Nixon's commitment to Missouri's community colleges is greatly appreciated as we continue our work of preparing students for success in a growing economy."

"From teaching a child with autism how to interact with peers, to working with law enforcement to respond to a parent in mental health crisis, these health professionals will build on the work we've already done to strengthen communities and make sure Missourians have access to the care they need," Nixon said. "With our economy continuing to pick up steam, this strategic investment will help Missourians with mental and developmental challenges live up to their God-given potential, while creating more high-paying jobs in our communities."

Nixon recently announced plans for a strategic bond issuance that would garner the resources needed to build a new high- and intermediate-security psychiatric facility at Fulton State Hospital — the oldest state psychiatric hospital west of the Mississippi River.

Caring for Missourians was launched by Nixon in 2009 as an effort to increase the number of health care professionals in the state educated at Missouri's public colleges and universities. The governor's office notes that the program has invested $40 million to the state's two- and four-year institutions in that span, aiding some 1,500 persons in becoming nurses, physicians, dentists and other health professionals.

The highest amount awarded through the program will be the $6,429,588 allocated to the University of Missouri—Columbia campus. MU's Kansas City and St. Louis campuses are expected to receive an additional $4,156,400 and $1,676,307, respectively, through the program.

The lowest amount awarded is $74,453, to Union's East Central College.

A total of 104 Missouri counties and most of St. Louis City are designated by the United States government as mental health professional shortage areas. Seventy-two of Missouri's 114 counties lack a licensed psychiatrist. Ninety of Missouri's 114 counties do not have a resident licensed analyst to provide autism spectrum disorders treatment.